Upper Middle Petrol Head:

When many people think of the JDM scene, their minds immediately go to kick-arse Skylines, early Z s, Supras and RX Mazdas, and possibly - but less commonly - anything Mitsubishi that wears  GTO badges.  Maybe it's a Fast 'n' Furious thing.   That's just one aspect of the scene and a very popular one, too.  Only focusing on machinery of that ilk does, however, ignore an equally interesting and easily more approachable segment of the Japanese car market: the bread and butter, run of the mill, daily-driver - call them what you will - lineup that helped cement Japan as a world leader in building quality, reliable cars that were often surprisingly good fun to drive. Take, for example, the humble Corolla:  your mum's, sister's or girlfriend's car; the car you learned to drive in; the car you borrowed and took to the drive-in!  Whack a set of 13" Jellybeans , Hotwires or Dragways on it and it it could've been your mate's car or, quite probably, your...

Am I imagining this or are there more and more early F-trucks and equivalent Chevvies and Dodges getting around Tasmania than ever before?  It's not uncommon to see the odd left-hooker these days, suggesting that they've been imported from State-side (the style-side Chev in the background being a case in point).  However, today's example - a fabulously patinated and rather imposing early Ford - is a right-hand drive version, so it's likely been an Aussie car all its life.   Marvin the Martian bonnet emblem.   New to Upper Middle Petrol Head?  Why not take a tour of the rest of the site?  There are cars, trucks and bikes from all over Tasmania and Australia's east coast, as well as car shows and motor sports events.  There's a search facility on the home page allowing you find whatever it might be you're looking for.  You might be surprised what you'll find! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) iPhone images.

  I'm not embarrassed that I thought that today's offering - an ultra-stylish Devaux coupe, photographed by fellow lensman Matt at the National Automobile museum in Launceston, Tasmania - was an exotic 1930s Bugatti or perhaps a pre-World War Two Alfa.  As the handy plaque below reveals, it's actually an all-Aussie creation, built of fibreglass and using contemporary running gear.  Irrespective of its origins, it's a superb looking design that's sure to turn heads!       U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by Matt.